When we recently announced that Hireup has partnered with the Special Olympics, we introduced you to athlete and Hireup user, Maddi. She was full of excitement, one liners and high hopes of “bringing home more gold” as she attended the Special Olympics opening ceremony.
After being postponed due to concerns of a COVID-19 outbreak in Brisbane earlier this year, Special Olympics were not certain the games would go ahead this year. So when it was decided the games were safe to hold, there were a lot of people grateful to be back competing again.
“I think the best part is just being here. I haven’t been to a state competition in a very long time. So I am very grateful for the chance to be back,” says Maddi.
After nervously waiting, Maddi got to go for gold in the state games which were held in Queensland this past weekend. Although winning isn’t everything as Maddi’s mum Terri reminded her before the big day.
“We don’t have to be the winner, winner chicken dinner every time, can we,” says Terri.
Along with her support worker Carmen, some Hireup staff were lucky enough to be poolside to cheer Maddi on. So, after coining the catch cry “breastroke is my best stroke” last time we met, let’s find out how she went.
“There’s been a lot of hard work, lots of training and dedication. And if you try hard enough you will get to where you want to go,” Maddi told us after competing in a race.
All the hard work led Maddi to the podium on the day, taking home the gold in breaststroke and placing in the top three in every other race she competed in. So it turned out that breaststroke really was her best stroke.
“Well I did my best and hard work is rewarded.”
